ESCFL Trophyland Cup Final & Corinthian Cup Final Double Header

Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League Finals Double Header, Sunday 5th May 2019

It was a double header at Dagenham & Redbridge’s Victoria Road ground on Sunday 5^th May as both the Trophyland Cup Final and the Corinthian Cup Final took place for the Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League, and it involved Dagenham United, East Ham Inter, Repton Park and Warren United, so here is how it all panned out:-

Trophyland Cup Final (11am)

Dagenham United 3 East Ham Inter 1

The first final of the day saw Second Division winners Dagenham United take on Fourth Division runners-up East Ham Inter, so Dagenham were clear favourites in this final, although in a cup final you can never tell how it would go.  And the opening half saw very little between the sides as the underdogs certainly gave as good as they got, and with four minutes of the first half to go they stunned their higher league opponents by taking the lead when a poor header back towards the keeper saw them nip in to head past a stranded keeper, and cue wild celebrations amongst the East Ham Inter bench and players.  Was there a shock on the cards? Well at the break this looked very possible indeed.

Half Time Dagenham United 0 East Ham Inter 1

So how would Dagenham deal with this pressure?  Well they managed to begin the half well and brought on Tom Carter who with his first touch nodded home a 57^th minute equaliser, this after a wonderful pass and hook back across goal gave him the easiest of headers from a yard out, and then with fifteen minutes left Carter netted again, slotting home from inside the box.  The favourites had deserved this lead after missing chances before taking the lead, and they had been well on top in this second period.  And with nine minutes remaining Dagenham sealed their league and cup double by adding a third when a superb ball over the top saw Ricardo Teixeira run onto it and lob brilliantly over the keeper to complete a super second half fightback.

Full Time Dagenham United 3 East Ham Inter 1

Right onto game two now, which saw an all Premier Division contest between two sides who knew each other well:-

Corinthian Cup Final (3pm)

Repton Park 4 Warren United 2

This was a repeat of last years final which saw Repton Park take the honours in that one, so no doubt Warren United would of liked to have gained retribution for that.  Repton Park were Premier Division champions so were looking for a league and cup double, whilst Warren United had finished fourth so were looking to end the season with some silverware.  Both these teams come from the same area, and both sets of players are friends off the pitch, but there were no friends once they crossed that white line and a decent game was expected.  It was almost a perfect start for Warren United too as they saw Bell strike the post, but in the 3^rd minute fell behind when Repton Park saw an effort crash off the bar before the rebound was headed home, but in the 11^th minute it was 1-1 when a complete cock up at the back allowed Bell to slot into an empty net, it had been some start to this one.  Further chances were missed by both but just past the half-hour mark Repton Park regained the lead when sloppy defending allowed the ball to be slammed home, and then two minutes before the break Repton Park increased their lead when after breaking the offside trap down the left, and brilliant effort across Green nestled into the far corner, and the Premier Division champions had a two-goal cushion at the half.

Half Time Repton Park 3 Warren United 1

So no doubt Warren United’s half time team talk was to keep tight and make sure you get the next goal in this one, they had created chances in the first half but were found wanting at the back at times, so to concede such a soft goal barely a minute into the second half would have been painful for sure, as more defensive woe allowed the number nine in to complete his hat-trick and put three goal between the two sides.  Warren United to their credit kept going though and did pull one back in the 56^th minute when a long-range effort was parried into the path of an attacker who swept the rebound home, and they came so close to 4-3 when Gates struck a wonderful free-kick against the underside of the bar.  Repton Park regrouped and hit the bar themselves late on, and they ended up seeing out what had been a wonderful game of football between two brilliant sides, but it was Repton Park who claimed a league and cup double by retaining the Corinthian Cup.

Full Time Repton Park 4 Warren United 2

So a good day all round, and many thanks to the guys on the Corinthian League for their wonderful hospitality throughout the day, and also thanks to Dagenham & Redbridge for the use of their facilities too.  Super stuff!!!